PM Shehbaz calls for effective measures to create jobs for youth

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif convened a meeting on Tuesday to assess progress on the National Youth Employment Policy and called for comprehensive measures to create job opportunities for young people across the country. The policy's implementation will be monitored through monthly review meetings, with a particular focus on equipping young people, especially women, with the necessary skills to access new employment opportunities.

During the meeting chaired by the prime minister, efforts were highlighted to reform institutions like the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA). NAVTTC is providing workers with international certifications and language proficiency required in overseas job markets, while young people are being trained according to market demands to facilitate employment abroad.

A Digital Youth Hub has been established to provide information on domestic and overseas employment opportunities through a single platform, while Youth Development Cells have been set up in educational institutions to offer career guidance and counselling. The prime minister also announced an awareness campaign to inform young people about the benefits under the policy.

Young Pakistanis were further emphasized as the government plans to ensure that 35% of the labor force under the policy would consist of women, with at least 10% allocated to startups. The government's youth employment drive aligns with Prime Minister Shehbaz's focus on expanding opportunities for young people through education, technology, and skills, particularly in technical education, information technology, and artificial intelligence.